MMDA preparing for ’surge’ in arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in coming months

(FILE) VACCINATION DAY In San Juan City on Tuesday, senior citizens, health workers and adults with illnesses gather at San Juan Arena to get their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health has given over-65s in Metro Manila until Wednesday to register with their local governments for vaccination. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Preparations are underway for the expected arrival “surge” of COVID-19 vaccines in Metro Manila in the coming months, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos said Friday.

Abalos said vaccine orders made by the different local government units in the National Capital Region and from the private sector are among those that are expected to arrive in the next few months.

“Be it as it may, nagmeeting-meeting kami na pinaghahandaan talaga namin yung bulusok nito. Ang bulusok nito kug hindi kami nagkakamali ay mga Mayo, June, July, August,” Abalos said in an interview with Teleradyo.

(Be it as it may, we have had meetings and we are preparing for the surge of vaccine arrivals. If I am not wrong, the surge will be in May to August.)

“Sabay-sabay yan e. Matinding logistics ang gagawin dyan (They will come simultaneously. Logistics will be hectic),” he added.

Abalos made the remark as local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila begin to worry about the declining vaccine supply in their areas.

However, Abalos believes that inoculations will continue especially after another batch of Sinovac vaccines arrived in Manila on Thursday afternoon.

“Sa tingin ko ngayon, didiretso [ang vaccination] dahil dumating nga [ang bakuna] (I believe the vaccination will continue since more vaccines arrived),” Abalos said.

The Philippines is expected to receive at least 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines of various brands in this second quarter of 2021, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine manager, earlier said.

/MUF